NLC, TUC  defy court order, commence nationwide strike midnight today

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) have directed its members to commence a nationwide strike from midnight today over the assault on NLC president, Joe Ajaero.

The organised labour directed its affiliates to implement the resolutions of the National Executive Council.

This was made known by the President of TUC, Festus Osifo, while addressing journalists on Monday, November 13, stating that the strike would remain until “government at all levels wake up to their responsibility.”

It would be recalled that the two major Labour unions were ordered to stop their nationwide strike scheduled to commence on Tuesday, November 14.

President of the Court, Justice Benedict Bakwaph Kanyip, issued the Restraining Order following an Ex-parte application to that effect brought before the court by the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice.

READ ALSO: Court stops NLC, TUC from embarking on planned strike

Justice Kanyip invoked Sections 17 and 19 of the National Industrial Court Act to issue the Restraining Order against the Labour.

The Federal Government and the AGF through their lawyer, Tijani Gazali, had in the Ex-parte application prayed the court to stop the planned strike so as to prevent untold hardships that would be inflicted on innocent law-abiding citizens and their businesses.

Gazali, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and Director of Civil Appeals in the Federal Ministry of Justice, while arguing the Ex-parte application, drew the attention of Justice Kanyip to series of hardships suffered by Nigerians on Thursday alone, when the Labour unions blocked entrances to the main airports in the country.

He pleaded that unless the planned strike was stopped, there might be a likelihood of breach of peace and tranquility in the country.

The Judge, who was persuaded by the government arguments in a short ruling, said that ‘’it is within the power of the court to intervene by way of restraining order to ensure peace and tranquility.’’

He proceeded to grant all the requests of the Federal Government as contained in the motion paper.

Besides, Justice Kanyip directed that the restraining order be pasted on the wall of the Labour House, being the last known address of the two defendants to draw their attention to the court’s position.

The judge also directed that the order, along with the originating and other processes, be served on the defendants by publication in two major national dailies.